The Roush family on adoption day. Photo courtesy of The Catholic Witness

November is National Adoption Month, and no family is happier to celebrate it than the Roush family.

On November 18, the siblings, ranging in age from 7 to 16, will be adopted by their aunt and uncle in Dauphin County in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The adoption has been facilitated by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg.

“We have been blessed by these five children. The children have brought such joy, not only to us, but to our whole family. We are so excited to finally be a forever family. They filled a space in our hearts we always knew was empty,” said Mr. and Mrs. Roush.

The family has partnered with Catholic Charities to make this dream a reality. Catholic Charities Adoption Services of Diocese of Harrisburg serves 15 counties in Central Pennsylvania. Opened in 1938, Catholic Charities Adoption Services has assisted birthparents, adoptive families and children, treating every person with love and acceptance.

“The social workers at Catholic Charities have been working with the Roush family for over 2 years. Our caseworkers have prepared the children for permanent placement with a family over many sessions. We created their family profile, which certifies the Roush family for adoption, and we completed the children’s profiles, which are required by the Department of Public Welfare. And we are very pleased to be completing the process by finalizing the adoption with Judge Hoover,” said Kelly Bolton, MSW, LSW, the Program Director for Catholic Charities Adoption Services.

After the adoption finalization with Judge Hoover, Bolton said, “This is such a happy moment for these children, and for our community. Stability, love, and permanence are the best things we can give children, and adoption does that. We are blessed to have been a part of this.”

Not only does this happy moment come during National Adoption Month, this is also the largest group adoption ever completed by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg. For more information about the adoption program at the Diocese of Harrisburg, visit here. For information about adoption in other parts of the state, visit www.adoptionpa.org.